"You hear--from nine to twelve. In the afternoon I will procure a teacher
for you in arms. In these days every gentleman must learn the use of his
weapons. I, myself, although most peacefully inclined, have more than once
been forced, when abroad, to use them. A man who cannot do so becomes the
butt of fools, and loses his self-respect."

"I shall like that, sir," Edgar said, eagerly. "I can play at quarter-
staff now with any boy of my size in the village."

"Well, there must be no more of that," his father said. "Up to the present
you have been but a child, but it is time now that you should cease to
consort with village boys and prepare for another station in life. They
may be good boys--I know naught about them--but they are not fit
associates for you. I am not blaming you," he said more kindly as he saw
the boy's face fall. "It was natural that you, having no associates of
your own rank, should make friends where you could find them. I trust that
it has done you no harm. Well, Prior, this day week the boy shall come to
you. I must get befitting clothes for him, or the other pupils will think
that he is the son of a hedge tinker."

An hour later Andrew was despatched to Dartford in a cart hired in the
village, with orders to bring back with him a tailor, also to inquire as
to who was considered the best teacher of arms in the town, and to engage
him to come up for an hour every afternoon to instruct Edgar.

Seven years had passed since that time, and the rough and unkempt boy had
grown into a tall young fellow, who had done fair credit to his teacher at
the convent, and had profited to the full by the teaching of the old
soldier who had been his instructor in arms. His father had,